The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-13

| with strong desire to look again into that
perfect blond face, and to quell the long.
| ing he had to conjure up very strongly the
| image of the heart-broken little milliner
"By the way" he said to himself, 81 won
der If she has finished that wretched bon
nett wonder if she is toiling away at it
now2" He smoked on in deep study for an
hour; then he left his rooms and descended
to some basement regions, where grimy
man sat by the great stean-engine. He
called to this man, and, after a short un-
derstanding, Hollis went back to his rooms,
carrying bundle of old clothes. In ten
minutes he had completely disguised
himself as a stopping, shabby fellow,
with shutting gait, and car
rying a stable package. He at
once started out, and walking briskly
| through the quiet streets at midnight,
reached small house, and the sign, "Miss
Robinson, Milliner." There were lights
within, and he rang at the door. 1t was
| opened cautiously by an oldish woman.
I've got a particular message aud
bundle for the milliner," said Hollis, in
low comedy voice, adding vaguely, and on
the chance of coming out right, Smiths
| the name"
"Oh, you're from Mrs. Smith" said the
woman, looking at him sharply. "It's
awful late; but you may come in. Nellie"
she called out ~ guess Mrs. Smiths sent
-
hats"
The parlor was convertible into bed
room, for three children were sleeping
there; and through an open door Hollis
saw in back room the little milllner he-
self, pale, weary but working away
feverishly in the midst of mass of feath
ers flowers and ribbons.
LET the man come here, mother. l can't
stop" she cried; and as Hollis approached
she said, without looking up, "Wait
minute till get this fold in the crown Just
right"
You're putty busy, amt yer?' ventured
Hollis.
"Oh yes she sighed, ''for I've got to
finish this bonnet for Easter If have to set
up all night to do it." Then tossing over
pile of furbelows, she said, ooh, mother,
where's them new crimson roses? l can't
find 'em nowheres. Goodness me- I'm Jest
drove to DEATH"
Her English made Hollis vince little,
but he thought with pity, not disdain, of
this poor child's lack of early training. He
ventured a little nearer, for the vital
matter was to know whose bonnet this
was on which the young creature was toll
ing, at the expense of her health, liberty,
perhaps life itself. "Ecru and bunch of
crimson roses that was Miss LerOy's
order. Then there arose the grave cues
ton, what color is it that women call
'ecru" Mr. Hollis put on a vacant, stupid
manner, and pointing to bit OF ribbon,
asked carelessly, "What color do YOU call
that ere, miss?'
"Mauve." answered Miss Robinson, as
she YEARLY pressed the needle through the
stubborn hat crown.
"Humph l amt go no idee of colors,"
be said, resolved to make a bold dash.
Now what do yer call that what you're
a-workin' on?"
"Ecru," she answered, YEARLY. 'It's to
be an ecru bonnet, black velvet on the edge,
and trimmed with few crimson roses"
''Ha!" he exclaimed, as his suspicious
were confirmed, and so nearly fell out of
his role that Miss Robinson might have
let her work fall, and cried out, "Oh,
mother, mother, I'm fainting"
Hollis rushed forward, caught the slight
figure as it fell, and laid the poor uncon-
scious little creature on a sofa near by.
The mother clasped her hands wildly and
sobbed out "Oh, my poor Nellie! She
works too hard
"Its burning shamel" said Hollis, be-
tween his teeth, as he bent in pity over
the delicate face. Her lips were half
parted, the long lashes showed dark on the
marble cheeks, and one small needle-tor-
tured hand lay across her bosom. The
mother bathed her forehead, and after
time there came a sigh, a start, and the
little milllner's first word was: 1.-THE
bonnet! oh, the bonnet: Mother, 1 must
finish i'll must
mo no." answered the distracted
mother. "My angel child, you'll Kill
yourself. MOI
Eyes" cried the girl, wildly, 81 must
/ must, and I"-she sat up bravely, though
pale as death-"I wall.
Don't" exclaimed Hollis, pityingly,
yet afraid of betraying himself by saying
too much.
But the little creature struggled to her
feet, pressed her hands to her eyes, pushed
back her hair, aud said, Now, before | go
to work. I'll attend to your errand.'
'The bundle" explained Hollis gliblv,
is Mr. Smiths coat He's TO try it on. II
faint right, L m to bring it back to Isaac =,
the tailor
"Oh. answered Miss Robinson YEARLY,
81 thought it came from customer. There's
some mistake"
"Ain't you Mrs. Smith, the milliner?"
inquired Hollis. innocently.
''She's Miss Robinson" the mother in
formed him. Guess you've got the wrong
street."
oWell, now" said Hollis, ~ guess |
have. Guess I'd oughter have gone east
instead of west, Good evenin'," and he
made of.
| certain bachelor apartment. A handsome
young fellow walked up and down, up and
down, until daylight, muttering to him.
sell, She is unworthy, utterly unworthy !
| cold cruel, heartless!" Throwing himself
now and then into chair, he would sob
| out, "But l loved her so; l loved her so. E"
| At last, spriDging up, as he brought his
| hand down upon a table with violence, he
exclaimed, solemnly, ~ swear | will never
see her again-never, never"
| ".
1t was IL o'clock on Easter morning,
and Mr.. Hollis, much Gained down by
/ few hours sound sleep and good break
| fast, felt an inclination to compromise
| with the passion-tossed lover of the night
| before. He re-registered his VOW in an.
other form: 81 will never see her again
unless by chance" Then he remarked ia
himself, half aloud: "rI just stroll up
Madison avenue, and see the people com
| ing from Easter services He did so, anC
| quite by chance fingered near a certain
exit of a certain church. By chance ht
kept his eye on the Gothic doorway, anC
entirely by chance spied an ecru bonnet
on it a rare shade of crimson rose, under il
q lovely face that smiled upon him. HI
grimly raised his hat, and grimly joined
Miss May Leroy.
"Uh, is that your" said May.
To which Mr.. Hollis could think of no
more telling answer than 1T is l, " very
tragically spoken.
dWhy, how sepulchral you are to-day
she remarked.